Around eleven on the next day, the visitors arrived one after another. Mr. Kuno would arrive when everyone else was there, that seemed to be one of his principles.
The wizards and mages all sat down at the long table that was hidden under a huge tablecloth (composed of dozens of magically merged towels). They seemed impressed by the altered terrace and house and really seemed to enjoy their beer, coffee and Makoto's 'Marvelous Morsels'.
Makoto and Minako were sitting next to the garden entrance, to welcome the guests. Nodoka thought it would be the best to let two of the griffins do that, to make a good impression. For that reason she chose two of them that were more or less the same height, even if Makoto's brown really didn't fit to Minako's golden fur.
Ranma was a little bit confused. He knew many of these mages, but all of them had suddenly long beards, so it was a little hard to recognize them. Only Cologne wasn't wearing a beard, and that's only because she was High Chancellor, not a tour mage.
He almost recognized one of them, he KNEW he had seen this person somewhere before. But this damn beard... He just couldn't see through it.
Until the mage turned around, smiled at him and said in an unmistakable voice: "Heyah, Ranchan!"
Ranma almost yelled 'WHAT?' "U-Ukyo?" he stuttered. "B-but how...? I thought only MALE mages could... and how did you grow a beard?"
The okonomiyaki chef turned witch snickered. "You should have seen your face, Ranchan. Priceless! I gave myself this beard with magic. The regulations say that all tour mages have to have a long beard, according to Mr. Kuno. And besides..." she dropped her voice to a whisper. "You know that sorceresses and witches normally aren't allowed to become tour mages."
Ranma shook his head. "I don't know, Ucchan... Isn't that a little risky? What if someone suspects something?"
"Don't worry," the young witch-in-training smirked. "I'm careful. Hey, even you didn't recognize me, right?"
"I guess you're right..." he said. "Want something to drink?"
"Some coffee, please," Ukyo said. "Where does your father get his coffee from? The plants are originally from Mr. Kuno's world, aren't they?"
"He grows them himself, behind our house."
"Really?" She seemed impressed. "If he could sell me some?"
"Ucchan..." Ranma asked nervously. "You think I have to wear a beard too? I'm also one of this year's tour mages?"
"Hey, welcome aboard," she said. "And yes, I think so. Mr. Kuno thinks all mages should wear long beards." Ranma groaned.
At that moment, Ranko came out of the house. She was wearing her favorite green dress, and her red, unbound hair cascaded down her shoulders. Most of the male wizards at the table made some appreciative noises, while Ranko smiled and got her violin ready. Her playing sounded wonderful, and she had the good looks of her mother.
Genma was angrily whispering to his wife: "Can't you tell her not to show off at every opportunity?"
"That's just a phase," Nodoka assured her husband.
"Well, I think it's time she grows out of that phase," Genma growled. "She's eighteen."
"She's beautiful! She plays good! She has every right to show off!"
Genma muttered something unintelligible, but let the matter drop for now.
'No-chan's and my relationship is going down the drain, I know it,' he thought. 'We almost never agree about anything. She wants the children to do something else than I do. What can I do to save our family?'
And like always when facing a problem, he began thinking about what kinds of new animals he could breed next. Maybe insects? That's something he never thought of before.
Suddenly, they could all hear a very strange noise, something that most of them hadn't heard before in their entire life.
Genma threw Happosai a confused look. "It's all right," his old master said. "It's some kind of vehicle that moves around without horses or anything. Mr. Kuno always brings it with him when he visits our world. It's called 'car'."
The car was approaching the house. It already drove through the village. When it stopped, four people came out of the vehicle. Three men and a woman. They all were wearing elegant business suits and everyone was carrying a small suitcase, except for the small man that was walking ahead. That was Mr. Kuno.
He was small and had almost no hair on his head. His eyes were squinty and cold, and his hands always seemed to be in movement.
He and his assistants walked up the path through the hedges. When they passed Minako and Makoto, the two griffins rose without saying a word and escorted them to the table.
Nodoka quickly stood up and pushed her chair to the table's front end. The woman pulled the chair behind Mr. Kuno's chair, and the men sat down left and right from him.
Mr. Kuno held out his hand, and the woman handed him the suitcase she was carrying. He put it on the table and opened it with two loud 'click's. Only then he sat down.
"Good morning," he said in an emotionless voice.
"Good morning, Mr. Kuno," the assembled wizards and mages responded.
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:34)
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